Portable concrete step



Oct. 22, 1940.

vH. A. BYINGTON PORTABLE CONCRETE STEP 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June l5, 1958 Oct. 22, 1940. H. A. :infuus-FONA PRTABLE CONCRETE STEP s sheets-smet 2 Filed June l5, 1958 Oct.'22,v 1940. H. A. BYINGTON PORTABLE CONCRETE STEPl F'iled June l5, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 f Dremolded concrete Patented Oct. 22, 1940 f UNITED STATES 2,218,52s y, PORTABLE `CONCRETE STEP PATENT OFFICE] Henry A. Byington, Adel, Ga.. Applicatinsune 15, 193s, Serial No 213,907"

11 claims. (ci. 72-96) My invention relates to a stair construction. An object of my invention is to provide a light,

f members are. entirely relieved of Stress otherthan those of live loads. f

Still another object is to provide a novel stair assembly, the parts of which when4 assembled,

firmly interlock `to form 'a rigid construction l without the use of auxiliary binding or connecting elements. i

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of one embodiment of my invention. ,v y Figure 2 is a. perspective View of one oi the riser seats in a Stringer. i

Figure 3 is a perspective View of yan interlocking riser end` for fittinginto the seatrof VFg-` ure 2.

Figure 4 is Figure 5 is a perspectiveview showing an alternative construction of Stringer.v

Figure 6 is a view of a Stringer Similar tothat shown in Figure "1, but having a modified riser Figure 7 is a view of the 'riser used with the Stringer of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a stair tread used in my assembly.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a further al.

ternative embodiment lof Stringer construction.`

; Figure 10is `a perspective View ofran intermediate riser for use with the Stringer construction OiFigure 9. y

Figure 11 is a perspectiveV view of one of the end risers used with the Stringer of kFigure 9.

In the attached drawings forming a part of this specication and in which like numbershave been used to designate like parts throughout the same, the numeral I0 designates my preferred ceiving channels I4 being ofa width equal to These channels will bevertical when the vstair is Set up the length of each of Said Surfaces I2.

a section on line lI--d of Figure 3. y

ready for use. These `channels I4 are of two depths,the deeper portion being indicatedby I5, and a shallower portion by the numeral I6. In the bottoms of both channel portions I5, I6, are` inwardly and downwardly curved sockets Il for a purpose to be later described.

I will now describe my novel riser designated by the numeral I8. These risers may be of molded concrete vconstruction `reinforced by welded `wirefabric `II Similar to that used in the Stringers I0. The risers I8 have a rearwardly right angled extending portion I9 extending the length of their top edges, and of a width equal to;

similar to bosses 2'I formed adjacent the lower corners of the risers. These'bosses are of Such shape and so spaced as to neatly fit into the upper and lower Stringer sockets Il with the riser top ush with the horizontal Stringer surfaces I2. This boss socket arrangement forms a positive lock against any twisting or rockingof the as-n sembly when Set up. Asv illustrated in Figures 1 Y and 4, a longitudinal rib 22 is formed on the front side of risers I8 for Supporting the reark edge of a step-tread 23. Each step 23, illustrated in Figure 8; has projections 24 at its front corner for extending over the ilat step portions I2 of the r of Stringer 25.V This Stringer has riser receiving channels and, Sockets Similar -to` vthose shown in Stringer I0, but has an integral buttress 21 extending along its outer edge. The step-treads used with this form of the invention are Similar to that shown in Figure 8, except that the projections 24 will be Shorter so as to abut the inner Side of Stringer buttress 21.

A third embodiment of my invention is illustrated in Figures 6 and '7. In this form, the Stringer 28 is similar to the Stringer IG of Figure that of the shallow Stringer channel E5. `Formed g ,ateach 4end of the portions I9 are'bosses 2l) r1 except that it is provided with single depth channels 29 having Sockets 30 for receiving bosses 3-I of a single widthriser 32 (Figure '7). `This riser has a tread Supporting rib 22 similar to that of the riser I8 previously described.

The alternative embodiment of thev invention shown in Figures 9, l0` and 11 comprehends .a Stringer 33 Similar to the Stringer 28 of Figure 6, except that its intermediate riser channels 34 have parallel straight side walls and straight.;

ends with ilat bottoms 35 perpendicular to the walls and ends.

In this embodiment the top and bottom end riser channels 36 and 3l, respectively, are of substantially dovetailed form with at least one side wall thereof dovetailed, and their bottoms being flat.

The intermediate risers used in this embodiment are as shown in Figure 10, each comprising a monolithic block 38 shaped at each end to conform to the riser channels 34, and having a laterally enlarged baseportion provided with a flat front shoulder 40 as a tread seating ledge. The length of the base portion is such that it abuts the stringers at each end.

The top and bottom risers used in this embodiment are identical, each consisting of a monolithic block 38' identicall to the intermediate riser 38 of Figure 140 except that its ends 4l are dovetailed to conform to the stringer channels 36 or 3l. The riser is formed with a basel portion 39' and shoulder 40 identical to the base and shoulder of an intermediate riser.

vIn all embodiments of the invention the interlocking of the structure is accomplished in the risers and stringers and without imparting to the treads `any stresses other than those incident to the live loads occurring in service. The stringers are anchored against inclination toward or away from each other by the risers, which bear the least load of any sections of the structure and are thus enabled to function at maximum efficiency with respect to durability and resistance to stress. l

From the above description it can be seen that I have provided a light and portable step construction 4with practically the same capacity,

stability and rigidness as one cast in a single unit.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred embodiments, and that changes in shape, size and arrangement of partsV may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:Y

.h l. In a stair construction, stringers having channels formed in their inner sides, said channels having sockets in their bottoms, risers hav-v ing bosses formed at their ends for tting into the channel sockets, and step treads for extending between the stringers.

2. In a stair construction, stringers having channels formed in their inner sides,'said channels having sockets in their bottoms, risers having bossesformed at their ends for fitting in the channel sockets, projections on the front face of the risers, and step treads supported by the risers and said projections.

3. In a stair construction, stringers having channels formed in their inner sides, the charinels having sockets formed in their bottoms, risers having bosses formed at their ends for fitting into said sockets, a longitudinal rib on the front face of each riser, and step treads having ytheir front edges supported by a riser and their 5. In a portable molded stair construction, stringers having stepped portions on their upper edges, the said stepped portions being connected by curved surfaces, vertical channels formed in the inner sides of the stringers adjacent each stepped portion, the channels having their bottoms situated at different levels and having sockets formed in each bottom, risers having rightangled flanges at their upper edges, bosses formed on the lower corner of each rightvangled ange and'lower riserl edge for fitting into the channel sockets, and a tread carried by the stringers and risers.

l6. In a separable molded stair construction, stringers having integral buttresses formed along their-upper and outer edges, vertical channels formed in the inner sides of said stringers, the said channels extending into the stringers to the inner edges of the buttress, the said channels having their bottoms formed at different levels, sockets formed in the bottom of each channel level, risers having rearwardly extending angled portions at their top edges, bosses formed on the lower corners of the angled portions and adjacent thelower corners of the risers for fitting into the stringer channel sockets, a horizontal projection formed on the front face of each riser, and step treads supported at their front edges by a riser top and at their back edges by a horizontal projection, the said treads having a depending portion on their bottoms for fitting between the back edge of a riser angled portion and the following riser horizontal porjection.

.7. In a separable molded stair construction, stringers having stepped portions on their upper edges and having curved surfaces connecting the said stepped portions, channels formed in the inner sides of the stringers and extending downwards from each flat surface, a socket formed in the bottom of each channel, risers having bosses formed in their ends adjacent each lower corner for fitting into the channel sockets, a longitudinal rib formed on the front face of each riser, and step treads carried at their front edges by the stringers and riser top and at their rear edges by a horizontal rib and having depending portions fitting between the backedge of a riser and the front surface of the longitudinal rib.

8. In a separable molded stair construction,

stringers having stepped surfaces on their upper edges, the stepped portions being connected by` curved surfaces, channels extending downwards from eachl stepped surface inthe inner sides of the stringers, ea'ch channel having its bottom formed at different vertical levels and having sockets formed therein, risers having rearward lextending potrions at their upper edges, downward extending bosses formed under the corner of each rearward extending portion in each riser end adjacent its lower corners for fitting into the stringer channel sockets, a longitudinal rib formed on the front surface of each riser, and a step tread having extensions at each front cor-v ner for resting on the stringer stepped surfaces, and having a depending portion on its under side for fitting between the back edge of the riser angled portion and front surface of the longitudinal rib of the following riser.

9. Al sectional stair yconstruction comprising stringers having riser end receiving channels in their opposed side faces, risers detachably seated atitheir ends in said channels, certain of said risers being-interlocked with said stringers to preers, and tread sections detachably `seated on said stringers and risers and free of interlocking engagement with either. v

`10. A sectional` stair construction comnrising stringers having riser end receiving channels in their opposed side faces, risers detachably seated at `their ends in said channelstread supporting portions on said risers, tread sections detachably seated `on said stringers and risers, and certain of ing free end seated engagement on the stringers. i0

said risers having interlocking engagement at `their ends with the stringers. A

`11. In a sectionalstair construction, stringers t having channels in their inner side faces on1y,` risers .detachably seated at their ends in said channels and interlocking therewith to prevent movement of. said stringers in any direction longitudinally of the risers, and tread sections hav- HENRY A. BYINGTON. 

